Factors affecting length of hospital stay in penetrating neck trauma patients

Background and purpose  Management of penetrating neck injuries is controversial; however, with recent shifting to non-zonal approach, unneeded surgical neck exploration and duration of hospital stay of such patient significantly reduced. In this study was conducted to investigate the factors affecting duration of hospital stay in penetrating neck injury patients managed with nonzonal approach.

Patients and methods It is a retrospective study conducted in two major trauma centers one in Egypt and one in UK, both centers adopting the same management protocol of non-zonal approach case by case management after stabilizing of the patients and obtaining CT angiography of the neck. The study included 65 patients with different types of injuries suicide, homicide, or accidental injuries with either by sharp objects or firearms.

Results  The mean length of hospital stay of included patients was 3.84 days. Patients with firearm injuries, , aerodigestive tract injury and those who needed airway support had statistically significant longer duration of hospital stay with P. value0.034, 0.001 and , 0.027. Also, presence of complications (pneumothorax, pharyngo-cutaneous, or tracheoesophageal fistulas) were associated with longer duration of hospital stay P. value 0.045. However, age, sex, type of injury suicide, homicide, or accidental), site of neck injury, number of wounds, presence of vascular injury and presence of psychological illness and having neck exploration had no effect on duration of hospital stay.

Conclusion Firearm neck injuries and injuries affecting aerodigestive tract are associated with more morbidity and complications ;hence, statistically significant longer duration of hospital stays.

Publication History

Article published online:
12 May 2023